Cigarette package



Patented Apr. 4, 1944 CIGARETTE PACKAGE Maurice A. Hannigan, Springfield, Mass., assignor of one-halt to Paul W. Otto, Springfield, Mass.

Application February 8, 1943, Serial No. 475,100

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in packages and is directed more particularly to improvements in packages for cigarettes and like articles.

The principal object of the invention is directed to a package including a receptacle for cigarettes and like objects having closure flaps in combination with means for releasably holding the closure flaps in closed relation.

According to special features of the invention, a flexible band is provided which is adapted for securement to the receptacle and has a portion arranged to overlie the closure flaps in their folded relation so that the package is closed. The band is releasable to free the closure flaps to permit access to the package. Altogether the novel features of the invention provide means for releasably holding the closure flaps in closed relation which is adapted to readily and easily release said flaps when desired.

Various novel objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully hereinafter referred to in connection with the accompanying description of the present preferred form of the invention with reference to the drawing wherem:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a package embodying the novel features of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the package shown in Fig. 1 having the closure flap in open article dispensing relation.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully disclosed.

The package of the invention is represented generally by 2 and is formed from a sheet of material arranged in tubular shape to provide a receptacle 4 that has overlapping lower flaps, not shown, and upper overlapping flaps 6 and 8. The lower flaps are preferably permanently secured so that the receptacle is closed at its lower end while the upper flaps are adapted for movement between closed and open positions. The receptacle may, of course, carry any desired ornamentation and it may have a band or outer wrapper should the same be desired.

The upper overlapping parts 6 and 8 may be arranged in the ordinary manner so as to be adapted for their swinging movements between open and closed overlapping relation, there belapping closure flaps when in closed position as shown in Fig. 1. The band has an extension or end portion M for overlying the front side wall of the package adjacent the upper end thereof.

The band I!) may be of any flexible material but will preferably be formed from plastic material and it will carry adhesive represented by [6. A material suitable for the band is commonly known as cellulose Scotch tape and being flexible it is easily manipulated, while being transparent it does not detract from any ornamentation which may appear on the package.

If desired, the band may have adhesive on the inner side of the extension l4 only as it may not be necessary in all cases that the part of the band for overlying the closure flaps be adhesively secured to said flaps. Since the band is secured to the package on its rear end and is to be detachably secured at its extension I4 it is adapted to hold the flaps in their closed overlapping relation.

The adhesive on the band, particularly on the extension M, will be of such a nature as to adhere to the front wall of the package in such a manner that it may be readily detached therefrom without destroying the band or the package. The band is merely lifted from the package to release the flaps so that they may be elevated to open position as shown in Fig. 2 to permit a cigarette or the like being removed from the package.

To facilitate the ready engagement of the forward end [4 of the band, there is provided a tab member l8. This tab member may take any form desired. In the form of the invention shown, there is represented a piece of material which is folded so as to overlie both sides of the band at its end thereby not only preventing the end of the band from adhering to the package but so that said end may be engaged between the fingers whereby the extension l4 may be removed from the package.

It is not necessary, but it may be desirable in some cases, to color the tab l8 so that it is more or less conspicuous and thereby the user of the package may instantly know at what point to engage the band. As has been stated, the band may be of transparent material or it may be colored in various ways and provided with ornamentation if desired. The revenue stamp usually used on packages of cigarettes and similar articles is not shown as the invention is not concerned therewith since the same may be applied in any way desired.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the band is constructed and arranged to hold the flaps in their closed position while at the same time it is adapted for manual engagement thereby to quickly release the said flaps when it is desired to open the receptacle.

With the flaps held in closed relation in the manner described, the contents are maintained in substantially the same condition until the contents are exhausted. This becomes more desirable and necessary as the materials employed for cigarette packages become unavailable.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A cigarette package comprising in combination, a container having front, rear and side walls and a closed lower end, end flap portions extending from the upper ends of each of said walls entirely across the width thereof that are connected together at adjacent side edges for folding relative to one another and to said walls between superposed closed relation where they completely close the upper end of the container and upstanding relation whereby the entire upper end of the container is open and entirely surrounded by said flap portions, an elongated fiat strip of flexible material having an inner end portion permanently secured to the rear Wall of the container adjacent and below the flap portion of said rear wall providing a relatively bendable body portion extending from said inner end portion and a relatively bendable outer end portion at the outer end of said body portion, said body portion adapted to overlie said flap forming wall extensions when in superposed closed relation with said outer end portion overlying the front wall of said container, the inner faces of the body and outer end portions of the strip carrying adhesive material of such a nature as to detachably adhere to said flap portions and to said front wall, and a manually engageable tab of less length than the width of the strip centrally overlying and permanently secured to opposite faces of the extremity of the outer end portion of the strip leaving corners thereof exposed, all adapted and arranged whereby the flap portions of the walls may be relatively folded into superposed relation to completely close the upper end of the container and the body and outer end portion of the strip superposed and detachably secured to said flap portions and front wall with the extremity of said strip excepting the corners thereof free of said front wall for manual engagement thereof so that the outer end and body portion of the strip may be detached from the front wall and flap portions permitting said flap portions to be moved to upstanding relation opening and surrounding the upper end of the container.

MAURICE A. HANNIGAN. 

